Malawi - 43.06
118
A for effort
Malawi has one of the most promising futures in Africa. Malawi is home to one of the freest and fairest democracies on the continent and a government that is ostensibly committed to the well-being of its people. Additionally, Malawi’s corruption score, while far from impressive (and far from passing), it is significantly higher than many countries in the region. Malawi is home to a rapidly developing economy and while it lacks the same resource wealth as some other countries nearby Malawi still has the foundations to develop beyond what it has today. However, Malawi in its present state is far from developed. The poverty rate is one of the highest in the world, sitting north of 70%. Much of the population is reliant on NGOs and missions for the most basic of healthcare. Despite the ostensibly good intentions of the government, it is painfully inept, hindering the country’s development. Malawi’s current situation can only be described as dire. However, within only a few short decades, people could be looking back on an economic miracle, rather than a disaster.
Human Rights - 37
Malawi has functionally abolished the death penalty; the last execution was carried out in 1992. Malawian police face several credible allegations of employing torture to coerce confessions. One report of a detainee being tortured to death with electric shocks has been confirmed and the officers involved were prosecuted. Torture is allegedly widespread in Malawian prisons. Malawian police are known to extort sexual favors from prostitutes under threat of arrest. Prison conditions in Malawi are terrible, with prisons in the country remaining at 200% capacity throughout the year. Prisoners lacked adequate access to any basic facilities as well as adequate food and drinking water. Torture was allegedly commonly used as a punishment in Malawian prisons. Compounding the issue is the fact that Malawi suffers from lengthy pretrial detention times, with detainees often being held without charge or trial for months or weeks. Warrants for search or seizure are seldom issued. Police often employ vague charges such as “conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace” and “obstruction of police officers” to carry out arbitrary arrests. Malawi retains a law, never enforced in the country’s history, criminalizing the act of “knowingly receiving and sharing unauthorized data.” It is punishable by a substantial monetary fine and no more than five years imprisonment. Homosexuality is illegal and it is punishable by corporal punishment for men, though this law is unenforced. Abortion is legal to save the woman’s life.
Democracy - 79
The president and assembly are directly elected. 2019 election results were struck down by the Supreme Court and the election was re-administered in 2020. The 2020 elections were administered freely and fairly. Malawi has a weak multi-party system as parties are fragile and alliances are fickle. Politicians regularly switch their allegiances between election cycles. However, Malawi’s weak party alliances have fostered regular peaceful transfers of power between rival politicians. Traditional chiefs wield primarily honorary political powers but they sometimes seek to influence votes. Some opposition chiefs have threatened opposition candidates that campaign in their territory.
Freedom - 64
Police often employ vague charges such as “conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace” and “obstruction of police officers” to carry out arbitrary arrests. Malawi retains a law, never enforced in the country’s history, criminalizing the act of “knowingly receiving and sharing unauthorized data.” It is punishable by a substantial monetary fine and no more than five years imprisonment. The government has occasionally harassed news organizations with arbitrary regulation. The government also often attempts to intimidate journalists covering protests. Recently, the government has been increasingly open to peaceful demonstrations. Some demonstrations were shut down due to COVID concerns but anti-government groups were not specifically targeted. Malawian drug laws go almost completely unenforced. Cannabis is illegal but cannabis cultivation is a major source of revenue in many parts of the country and Malawi is the main cannabis cultivator for the entirety of Southern Africa. Malawian gun laws are largely ambiguous. Guns are generally accessible for hunting but are too expensive for most people in Malawi.
Economy - 9
Health - 12
Malawi has a life expectancy of 64 years and an infant mortality rate of 3.1%. 5.8% of Malawians are obese and 10.3% are malnourished. There is very little healthcare infrastructure outside of Lilongwe and much of the population is reliant on NGOs and missions. 51.9% of Malawians have access to clean, running water. Malawi has major problems with HIV/AIDS and cholera.
Corruption - 26
Judicial verdicts are bought and sold. Malawian police are known to extort sexual favors from prostitutes under threat of arrest. Public services must be bribed into action. Embezzlement of tax money is rampant in Malawi. It is possible to smuggle anything in and out of Malawi with enough of a bribe as Malawi has some fo the most porous borders in the world. Public contracts are impossible to obtain without corruption.
Competency - 7
The government is failing to provide for the people as much of the population lacks access to basic healthcare or running water. A number of laws on the books in Malawi go completely unenforced. Disease remains rampant across the country. Corruption is rampant, though less common than in many countries in the region.
Future - 80
Malawian democracy seems steadfast and while party allegiances are weak the country’s democratic foundations are not. The Malawian economy is growing rapidly and continued to grow (albeit slowly) during COVID.
Actions Abroad - 64
Malawi exchanged recognition from Taiwan to the PRC in 2008 in exchange for foreign investment. Malawi now receives large amounts of foreign investment. Malawi maintained strong relations with Apartheid South Africa in violation of international tariffs. After the fall of the Apartheid regime, Malawi continued to maintain positive relations with post-apartheid South Africa. Malawi’s relations with other African countries were repaired after Apartheid fell. Malawi maintains good relations with the United States and has cooperated with American military campaigns in the region. Malawian UN peacekeepers allegedly raped civilians in the DRC and Rwanda. These were reportedly isolated incidents and are under investigation.
70.3% of Malawians live below the international poverty line and 51.5% live below the national poverty line. 5.99% of Malawians are unemployed. Malawi has an extremely high economic disparity. Malawi’s healthcare system is extremely limited outside of Lilongwe and much of the population is reliant on NGOs and missions to access basic healthcare. The Malawian economy grew 0.8% in 2020 and 5.7% in 2019.